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Obama administration considers moves to limit anonymous donations

President Obama is considering measures to compel disclosure of contributions. | AP, Reuters Photos
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Craig Holman, a campaign finance lobbyist for Public Citizen, acknowledged that the Republican takeover of the House and narrowing of the Democratic majority in the Senate in the 2010 midterms puts the onus on the Obama administration to use executive power to tighten campaign finance disclosure and other rules.

“I would have liked to see (Obama) play a more active role administratively on a lot of these reform efforts, but I hope this (executive order) is a signal that the White House is going to get more involved in the regulatory approach, because they can achieve a great deal through executive order,” said Holman.

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Holman worked with the administration and its congressional allies last year on a bill to respond to the Citizens United decision by forcing groups airing certain ads to name their top five donors on screen and on their websites. That bill would also have limited political ad spending by companies with government contracts or that received government bailouts from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, as well as those with more than 20 percent foreign ownership.

A related House bill to require shareholder approval before a publically traded corporation could spend money on politics never came up for a full House vote.

One Democratic congressional aide, who requested anonymity to talk about interactions with the White House, said that Democratic House members had made clear that “there was interest in the House in trying to get the White House to do whatever they could do within their constitutional power” to move the issue.

The draft executive order, which the White House is circulating for comment among agencies, says its goal is to “increase transparency and accountability” and “ensure the integrity of the federal contracting system” by requiring companies submitting bids for federal work to disclose contributions made within the last two years by their officers and directors to federal candidates and parties.

Such contributions already have to be reported to the FEC, but the executive order also would require disclosure of contributions or expenditures made by a company’s officers and directors, as well as the company and its affiliates, to support candidates, including those “made to third party entities with the intention or reasonable expectation that parties would use those contributions to make independent expenditures or electioneering communications.”

That last phrase seems an effort to directly address spending by groups registered under sections of the tax code that don’t require disclosure of donors, such as the chamber – which is registered under section 501(c)6 – and Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, which is registered under section 501(c)4.

An administration official stressed that the executive order, which cites state “pay-to-play” laws as a model, “is a draft ... that is still moving through the standard review and feedback process” and “is not a final document.” But the official, who requested anonymity to discuss the working draft, said Obama “is committed to an overhaul of government contracting policies to promote accountability, transparency and competition.”

The executive order seems likely to quiet some criticism Obama has been facing from advocates for stricter campaign finance regulations. They contend Obama has failed to live up to his campaign promise to reduce the influence of big money in politics.

Obama is so full of it, its coming out of his eyes! He wasted my vote in 2008. I hate him! I wish he'd just disappear! This arrogant clueless president, deserve NOTHING from hardworking Americans!

He's ARROGANT with NOTHING to show for his arrogance other than destruction. He's like a tornado, he destroys EVERYTHING in his path! What a loathesome creature, I wish he'd shutup!

ANYONE who believe this CON ARTIST, DESERVED to be CONNED. In 2008 he made a statement during debate he'd accept public funding for his presidential campaign, it was a PROMISE. Then turned around and reneged from his own words!

www.youtube.com/v/VHOzg8MA4xQ

He can't stand it when a reporter outside of Washington DC ask real question majority of the American people want him to answer. The lamestream media dance around Obama, protecting him; they're so afraid to be banned from the pool of journalists reporting directly from the Whitehouse; they literally don't ask him any hard question which is relevant, instead they've wasted their time asking about his golf game, basketball, football etc etc.

People try to live within their income so they can afford to pay taxes to a government that can't live within its income. ~Robert Half

We will pay attention to your ridiculous executive orders when you abide by congressional bills that you have signed your name to then choose to ignore. See czars. You Obama are the king of crooked campaign contributions. All those $25 donations from Mickey Mouse on credit cards from Dubai. The Muslim from Kenya always has the goal of transparency and accountability . For everyone but himself. The hall mark of liberal thinking.

We will pay attention to your ridiculous executive orders when you abide by congressional bills that you have signed your name to then choose to ignore. See czars. You Obama are the king of crooked campaign contributions. All those $25 donations from Mickey Mouse on credit cards from Dubai. The Muslim from Kenya always has the goal of transparency and accountability . For everyone but himself. The hall mark of liberal thinking.

Comrades; It is only expedient that America be ruled by a one party political system so that Obama can fullfill his lifelong dream of being the supreme ruler of the USSA (United Socialist States of America). Why should anyone who opposes this nightmare (oops I meant to say dream) be given anything other than a short walk to a mass grave? After all, who do we think we are, Americans? Pol Pot in 2012 !

Can anyone seriously speak out against disclosure and transparancy? Here we go with the "I heard someone say that there may have been money from Lybia..." I heard someone say your wife turns tricks for $10 bucks...lets have a grown up discussion. k?

Democracy is dead until the five Republicans on the US Supreme Court are removed.

Those 5 are the only thing keeping our democracy alive. If not for them we would have a Chavez style dictator in the Whitehouse. I pray for the health of all 5 everyday. The only branch of government that Obama can't ride roughshod over. Hopefully they can all hang on until we can get rid of the Muslim from Kenya in 2012

Leslie-Washington, you state that you are a democrat which I find hard to believe, you go on to say that " I hate Him" which I can believe, then you go to sat that he " deserves nothing from " hardworking American" are you trying that the republican/tea party has done so much for " hard working Americans" if so what have they done ? You rant on and own call the president arrogant yet have not backed up your statement with facts or issues that back you up, you don't believe the republicans have been arrogant you say you were a democrat that was a lie being a democrat is based on common ideals not one person, hope that you don't call yourself a " christan with all of that hate in you , perhaps if you calm down seek help you might be o'k one day but you seem as though you could use a break, hope all comes out during your treatment. As far as the rest of you why should those who pay to sling mud, lies about those they don't agree with be able to hide and I am talking about both sides, if you believe what you are doing do it in the light not hide in the darkness.

Leslie-Washington, you state that you are a democrat which I find hard to believe, you go on to say that " I hate Him" which I can believe, then you go to sat that he " deserves nothing from " hardworking American" are you trying that the republican/tea party has done so much for " hard working Americans" if so what have they done ? You rant on and own call the president arrogant yet have not backed up your statement with facts or issues that back you up, you don't believe the republicans have been arrogant you say you were a democrat that was a lie being a democrat is based on common ideals not one person, hope that you don't call yourself a " christan with all of that hate in you , perhaps if you calm down seek help you might be o'k one day but you seem as though you could use a break, hope all comes out during your treatment. As far as the rest of you why should those who pay to sling mud, lies about those they don't agree with be able to hide and I am talking about both sides, if you believe what you are doing do it in the light not hide in the darkness.